Touring Venice

Touring Venice

If you want some expert guidance around Venice, you have several options to choose from. Cooperativa Guide Turistiche Autorizzate (San Marco 750, near San Zulian. 041/5209038. www.guidevenezia.it).

has a list of more than 100 licensed guides. Tours lasting about two hours with an English-speaking guide start at EUR 125 for up to 30 people. Agree on a total price before you begin, as there can be some hidden extras. Guides are of variable quality.

More than a dozen major travel agents offer a two-hour walking tour of the San Marco area (EUR 30), which ends with a glassblowing demonstration daily (no Sunday tour in winter). From April to October there's also an afternoon walking tour that ends with a gondola ride (EUR 40).

Venicescapes (Campo San Provolo, Castello 4954. 041/5206361. www.venicescapes.org), an Italo-American cultural association, offers several themed itineraries focusing on history and culture as well as tourist sights. Their three- to seven-hour tours are in small groups (generally six to eight people). Reservations are recommended during busy seasons, and prices start at EUR 240 for two people.

Walks Inside Venice (041/5202434. www.walksinsidevenice.com)

also does several themed tours for small groups starting at EUR 70 per hour and lasting up to three hours.

Serenaded gondola trips, with or without dinner (EUR 73, EUR 35), can be purchased at local travel agencies or at American Express (Salizzada San Moisè, San Marco 1471. 041/5200844. 041/5229937).

Nightly tours leave at 7:30 and 8:30 April-September, at 7:30 only in October, and at 3:30 November-March.